Sliver condenser for a fiber separating device of open-end spinning units

ABSTRACT

Sliver condenser for a fiber separating device of open-end spinning units. The condenser comprises a combing-out cylinder and a sliver supplying mechanism associated therewith, such supplying mechanism consists either of a pair of feed rollers or of a feed roller cooperating with a pressure shoe between which the sliver discharged from the condenser is compressed. The cross-sectional area of the sliver condenser duct continuously diminishes from the intake to the outlet port thereof. At least within a portion of the duct length, the dimensions of the duct cross-sections parallel with the feed roller axis are greater than the maximum widths of the respective cross-sections perpendicular to the last-mentioned dimensions so that at least within said portion of the duct length the two opposite duct walls are wider than the two other opposite duct walls, while within one and the same duct cross-section the cross-sectional width continuously or gradually varies so that the maximum width of the cross-section is adjacent at least one of the opposite duct walls.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,881,308 Marsalek et al. 1 May 6, 1975 1 sLlvER CONDENSER FOR A FIBER 3,083,414 4/1963 Gasser 19/150 SEPARATING DEVICE 0F OPEN-END 1x32? g tg 5Q emn SPINNING UNITS 3,387,339 6/1968 Bofill 19/150 [75] Inventors: Milan Marsalek, Nachod; Vaclav 3,447,206 6/1969 Klein et a1. 19/150 X Brynda Usti nad orlici; Jan Junek 3,626,681 12/197] Usti nad Orlici; Frantisek Hortlik, Usti nad Orlici; Josef Ripka, Usti Primary Examiner-John Petrakes nad Orlici; Vaclav Vobornik, Letohrad; Vladimir Ohlidal, UStl 57 ABSTRACT nad Orlici, all of Czechoslovakia Sliver condenser for a fiber separatmg device of open- Assigl'leei y y Bavlnarsky, Usti end spinning units. The condenser comprises a comb- Orlici, Czechoslovakia ing-out cylinder and a sliver supplying mechanism as- [22] Filed: N0 14 1973 sociated therewith, such supplying mechanism consists elther of a pair of feed rollers or of a feed roller coop- PP- 415,803 crating with a pressure shoe between which the sliver discharged from the condenser is compressed. The [30] Foreign Application Prior"), Data cross-sectional area of the sliver condenser duct con- N 29 l 972 CZ h l 8120/72 tmuously dlmimshes from the lntake to the outlet port ec 0s Ova thereof. At least w1th1n a port1on of the duct length, the dimensions of the duct cross-sections parallel with (SI 57/58.9;6llh9/l the feed roller axis are greater than the maximum [58] Fieid 89 58 95 widths of the respective cross-sections perpendicular d 6 to the last-mentioned dimensions so that at least within said portion of the duct length the two opposite duct walls are wider than the two other 0 osite duct [56] References Cited walls, while within one and the same d uct cross- UNITED STATES PATENTS section the cross-sectional width continuously or grad- 325,70O 9/1885 Rounds 19/150 ually varies so that the maximum width of the crossl1499607 7/ 1924 Dawson v 19/150 section is adjacent at least one of the opposite duct 1,854,690 4/1932 Casablancasm 19/150 2,206,232 7/1940 Martin 4 4 19/288 3,020,600 2/1962 West 19/288 X 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHA-Y GIHYE SHEET 1 CF PATENTEUHAY 6191s SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG.3

FIG.8

FIG. 5

1 SLIVER CONDENSER FOR A FIBER SEPARATING DEVICE OF OPEN-END SPINNING UNITS The present invention relates to a sliver condenser for a fiber separating device of open-end spinning units, said units comprising a combing-out cylinder and a sliver supplying mechanism associated therewith, such mechanism consisting either of a pair of feed rollers or of a feed roller cooperating with a pressure shoe between which the sliver discharged from the condenser is compressed. The sliver condenser according to the invention enables a uniform fiber distribution across the whole sliver width in the nip zone of the sliver supplying mechanism.

The fiber of sliver delivered by the supplying mechanism are opened and separated by the combing-out cylinder and conveyed into a rotary spinning chamber where they are converted to yarn. In order to ensure a reliable holding of all the fibers within the nip zone of the supplying mechanism and to make full use of the active width of the combing-out cylinder, the sliver has to be formed in the condenser in such a manner that it manner that it may assume, before having entered the nip zone, a rectangular cross-section with evenly distributed fibers so that it may bee spread to width corresponding to the active combing-out cylinder width. In the event the fibers are not uniformly distributed within the full sliver within the full sliver width in the nip zone, the sliver supplying mechanism will control, during the fiber separating operation, only the fiber within the maximum fiber density region while the other or marginal fibers are combed out in relatively bulky agglomeration', this impairs the spinning process and leads finally to a reduction of yarn quality Well-known sliver condenser arrangements having a duct of rectangular cross-section of which area from the intake to the outlet port continuously decreases, do not meet the conditions hereinabove set forth, particularly if the sliver is supplied to the condenser in a nonaxial direction, since in this case the sliver tends to follow one of the condenser sides.

The rectangular cross-section outline of the sliver entering the nip zone and uniform fiber density within the sliver crosssection are ensured by the sliver condenser according to the invention, such condenser having a duct of which cross-sectional area continuously diminishes from the intake to the outlet port, too.

In accordance with the present invention at least within a portion of the duct length the dimensions of the duct cross-sections parallel with the feed roller axis, i.e., cross-sectional heights, are greater than the maximum widths of the respective cross-sections, i.e., the maximum dimensions perpendicular to said heights, so that at least within this duct length portion the two opposite duct walls are wider than the two other opposite duct walls, while within one and the same cross-section the cross-sectional width continuously or gradually varies so hat the maximum width of the cross-section is adjacent at least of the opposite duct walls. In the event the intake duct port has a cross-sectional shape other than the afore-described shape of duct cross-section, viz., e.g., a circular, oval or rectangular shape, the duct shape continuously varies in the direction from said intake port to assume the aforesaid cross-sectional shape. The ratio between the minimum and the maximum cross-sectional shape widths is selected within the range offrom l:1.l to 1:5.

It is to be understood that by continuously varying the duct shape the shape of sliver passing therethough is smoothly and continuously changed. Due to the fact that the heights of the successive duct cross-sections, i.e., the dimensions parallel with the axes of both feed roller and combing-out roller, exceed the cross sectional widths, the sliver, when passing through the condenser, is being spread over the width approaching the active width of the combing-out cylinder. Since within different regions of one and the same duct crosssection the cross-sectional width varies. the different sliver portions during the passage are exposed to varying resistance; for this reason, such a duct shape is preferably selected so as to exert the maximum resistance to the maximum fiber density sliver region. Thus the fibers are displaced from the central maximum density region to the peripheral sliver portions where the fibers density is reduced.

It has been found that the maximum resistance the sliver is exposed to during its passage is exerted by the narrowest portion of the duct cross-section. Therefore, if the sliver of a substantially circular or oval cross section is to be supplied to the condenser in the axial direction, such a duct shape is preferably selected so that the narrowest duct portion be situated substantially in the middle of its cross-sectional height.

In the case of a non-axial sliver feed, the shape of condenser duct is preferably such that the minimum cross-sectional width of the duct shape is situated substantially adjacent one of the two opposite wider duct walls, preferably the wall one which receives the entering sliver.

With extra wide combing-out cylinders is preferred to use a condenser embodiment in which the two opposite wider duct walls are provided with at least one longitudinal web designed to spread the sliver toward the narrower walls.

In order that the invention may be better understood and carried into practice, some preferred embodiments thereof will be now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which, however, are not intended to limit in any way the invention scope.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an open-end spinning unit equipped ith the sliver condenser according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary condenser embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the sliver condenser as shown in FIG. 2, viewed from its intake port;

FIGS. 4 and S are top views of two respective alternative embodiments of the sliver condenser to the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views in cross-sections of two further condenser duct embodiments, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternative sliver condenser embodiment, viewed from its intake port; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified condenser duct provided with longitudinal inner webs.

Discussing now the drawings in detail, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, it can be seen that the open-end spinning unit comprises a rotary spinning chamber 1, a fiber separating device for treating fiber 2 to be supplied into the spinning chamber 1, and a pair of take-off rollers 3 for delivering yarn 4 from the spinning chamber l.

The fiber separating device comprises a combing-out cylinder 5 and a sliver supplying mechanism associated thereto and including a feed roller 6 and a pressure shoe 7 forming a nip zone therewith, the two aforementioned elements being preceded by a silver condenser 8.

A sliver 9 discharge from the condenser 8 is led through the nip zone provided between the feed roller 6 and the pressure shoe 7 and is opened by the combing-out cylinder 5 so that fibers 2 are separated from one another. This fibers once separated are then conveyed through a supply channel 10 into the spinning chamber 1 where they are twisted to form yarn 4 which is taken off and finally wound up to form a package 1 1.

As it is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, which show the duct of the sliver condenser 8, the area of the duct cross-section continuously diminishes from the intake port 12 to the outlet port 13 of the duct. The outline of the cross-sectional area, when viewed at from the intake port 12 of the duct, continuously varies in the direction towards the outlet port 13 thereof from a substantially rectangular to a substantially hour-glass shape represented in FIG. 2 by the crosssection 14. This cross-section 14 as well as the other downstream cross-section up to the outlet port 13 have similar outlines. The dimensions of said cross-sections which are parallel with the axis of the feed roller 6, i.e., the heights 15 of the cross-sections (FIG. 2), always exceeds the maximum widths 16 thereof while within one and the same cross-section the width of the crosssectional area continuously varies.

The term width 16 of the cross-section" means the dimension perpendicular to the height 15 of the crosssection With the cross-section 14, the minimum width 16 to the maximum width 16 has a ratio of 111.6 while at the outlet port 13 this ratio amounts to 1:3. Thus along the so shaped duct portion the minimum width 16 of the cross-section thereof is substantially always in the middle of its height 15.

The above-described embodiment is suitable for cases wherein the sliver is supplied to the condenser 8 in the axial direction.

Due to the face that the heights of the condenser duct cross-sections, i.e, the dimensions parallel with the axes of both the feed roller 6 and the combing-out cylinder 5, exceed the widths 16 of said cross-sections, the sliver is compressed during its passage through the condenser in the direction of cross-section width 16 whereby it is spread over the width approaching to the active width of the combing-out cylinder 5. The even fiber distribution within the condensed sliver is attained by having the narrowest duct portion diaposed in the middle of the height 15 of its cross-section. Since the sliver entering the condenser has, as a rule, a circular or oval crosssection, the sliver zone having the maximum fiber density is caused to pass the central portion of the duct. It is to be understood that this sliver part is exposed to the maximum resistance imposed by the tapered condenser duct. Thus the fibers are forced from the central sliver portion into the peripheral regions wherein the fiber density is reduced.

The ducts of condensers 8 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, may also be used in case of axial sliver feed into the condenser. The embodiment of the condenser according to FIG. 4 has an oval intake port 12 and a rectangular outlet port 13. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a circular intake port 12 and a rectangular outlet port 13.

The duct cross-section shown in FIG. 6 is also suitable for use with axially fed sliver condensers. As it is apparent, one of the duct side walls in FIG. 6 is convex.

When the sliver enters the condenser in a non-axial direction, the duct cross-section having the outline shown in FIG. 7 may advantageously be used. The narrowest duct wall 17 is designed to receive the sliver entering the condenser and to exert the maximum opposition upon the passing sliver so that fibers thereof are forced towards the opposite wall.

FIG. 8 shows a condenser embodiment wherein the outlines of both the intake and outlet ports 12 and 13,

5 respectively, are similar. The minimum width 16 of the intake port 12 to the maximum width 16 thereof has the ratio 121.1. In the direction towards the outlet port 13 the difference between the minimum and the maximum width 16 increases until at the outlet port 13 it attains a ratio of 1:4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 both the intake and the outlet ports 12 and 13, respectively have substantially rectangular outlines. The opposite wider duct sides are provided with three longitudinal webs 18 designed for effectively spreading the sliver in the direction from the center of the duct towards the narrower walls. This embodiment is suitable to be used cooperating with wider combing-out cylinders 5.

As is apparent in FIG. 9, in the duct portion provided with the webs 18 the cross-section width 16 varies gradually within each of the duct cross-sections.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be expressely understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a plurality of preferred embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sliver condenser for a fiber separating device of an open-end spinning unit, comprising a combing-out cylinder and a sliver supplying mechanism associated therewith comprising a feed roller cooperating with a pressure member between which the sliver discharged from the condenser is compressed, a sliver condenser duct having an intake and an outlet port, the crosssectional area of the duct continuously diminishing from the intake to the outlet port, the heights of duct cross-sections within at least a portion of the duct length parallel with the feed roller axis being greater than the maximum widths of the respective crosssections perpendicular to the last-mentioned heights, so that at least within said portion of the duct length the two opposite duct walls are wider than the two other opposite duct walls, within one and the same duct cross-section the cross-sectional width gradually varying so that the maximum width of the cross-section is adjacent at least one of the opposite duct walls.

2. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape variation is continuous and corresponds to a continuous shape variation of the sliver condenser duct, beginning at the intake port thereof.

3. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the minimum cross-sectional width of the duct to the maximum cross-sectional width thereof has a ratio varying between l:l.1 and 1:5.

is situated substantially adjacent one of the opposite narrower duct walls.

6. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the opposite wider duct walls is provided with at least one longitudinal web. 

1. A sliver condenser for a fiber separating device of an openend spinning unit, comprising a combing-out cylinder and a sliver supplying mechanism associated therewith comprising a feed roller cooperating with a pressure member between which the sliver discharged from the condenser is compressed, a sliver condenser duct having an intake and an outlet port, the cross-sectional area of the duct continuously diminishing from the intake to the outlet port, the heights of duct cross-sections within at least a portion of the duct length parallel with the feed roller axis being greater than the maximum widths of the respective crosssections perpendicular to the last-mentioned heights, so that at least within said portion of the duct length the two opposite duct walls are wider than the two other opposite duct walls, within one and the same duct cross-section the cross-sectional width gradually varying so that the maximum width of the crosssection is adjacent at least one of the opposite duct walls.
 2. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape variation is continuous and corresponds to a continuous shape variation of the sliver condenser duct, beginning at the intake port thereof.
 3. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the minimum cross-sectional width of the duct to the maximum cross-sectional width thereof has a ratio varying between 1:1.1 and 1:5.
 4. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the narrowest portion of the cross-sectional duct width is situated substantially in the middle of the cross-sectional duct height.
 5. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the narrowest portion of the cross-sectional duct width is situated substantially aDjacent one of the opposite narrower duct walls.
 6. A sliver condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the opposite wider duct walls is provided with at least one longitudinal web. 